Closure for secondary containment pipe

ABSTRACT

A fitting assembly for joining a double containment pipe (DCP), including primary and secondary pipes, to a double containment fitting, including primary and secondary fittings, wherein the secondary fitting has a larger diameter than the secondary pipe. A sealing reducer has a larger diameter end for fitting over the secondary fitting and a smaller diameter end for fitting over the secondary pipe. The sealing reducer is fit over the secondary pipe, the primaries of the DCP and double containment fitting are joined, and then the sealing reducer is positioned over the primary joint and its smaller and larger diameter ends sealed, either by adhesive or a combination of interlocking threaded fitting components and O-rings, to the ends of the secondary pipe and secondary fitting, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of the provisional U.S. patentapplication 60/081,343 filed Apr. 7, 1998, the subject matter of whichis fully incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND

Current legislation requires the use of contained piping systems whentransporting contaminants underground. This legislation is particularlyapplicable to the fuel-handling market. Fuel, e.g., gasoline, is storedunderground in tanks and is then piped to overground fuel pumps. Toprevent contamination of the surrounding ground, the legislationrequires that a secondary pipe, also referred to as merely a“secondary,” is used to encase the main pipe and contain any leakagefrom the main pipe, also referred to as the “primary.” As a result,since the tank is a low point in the system, any leakage contained inthe second pipe flows, due to gravity, back to the tank. Such systemsare sometimes referred to as dual containment systems.

This legislation has given rise to the need for a secondary pipingsystem which is easy to install and economical. A substantial portion ofthe cost of these systems is driven by the technique used to join thesecondary pipes forming the containment system.

In an assembly of contained piping, it is desired, and often required,that the primary connection be visible during an initial pressure testof the system to insure integrity at test pressures. Typically, thesecondary is designed with a gap over the points where the primary isjoined to allow inspection of the joint under test pressures. Closure ofthis gap can become difficult depending on the intended service andsystem design. Usually this gap is closed with a two-piece fitting(“clam-shell” design) such as by manufacturing the secondary fittingelement in two length-wise elements, i.e., split longitudinally intoequal halves. However, the junction between the two halves create a lowstrength point which usually will not perform to the level of the restof the system. Even though the secondaries are usually rated for lowpressures, there are occasions in which the secondary is required to berated at the same pressure as the primary. The joining methods to resistpressures at primary ratings are costly.

It is therefore desirable to provide a cost effective and high strengthtechnique for closing the secondary at the joints which is capable ofoperating under the same pressures as the primary.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the invention, a double containment pipeconnection is provided which includes an inner primary pipe and an outersecondary pipe with a fluid passage between the pipes, a fittingincluding an inner tube and an outer tube with a fluid passage betweenthe tubes, an intermediate diameter portion adjacent to the end of theouter tube of the fitting having a diameter intermediate between theinside diameter and the outside diameter of the outer tube, and asealing reducer. The sealing reducer includes a smaller diameter endhaving an inside diameter sufficiently larger than the outside diameterof the outer secondary pipe to slide over the outside of the outersecondary pipe, and a larger diameter end having an inside diametersufficiently larger than the outside diameter of the inner tube topermit fluid flow therebetween. A first seal is provided between thesmaller diameter end of the reducer and the outside of the outersecondary pipe, and a second seal is provided between the largerdiameter end of the reducer and the intermediate diameter portion ofouter tube of the fitting.

According another embodiment, the intermediate diameter portion includesa thread on an inside surface of outer tube, and the second sealincludes an elastomeric ring having an inside diameter sufficientlylarger than the outside diameter of the inner tube to permit fluid flowtherebetween, and a thread is provided on the reducer for compressingthe second seal between the reducer and the second tube.

According to another embodiment, the intermediate diameter portion is acylindrical surface on the outer tube, and the second seal is providedby an adhesive cement between the intermediate diameter portion and thelarger diameter end of the reducer. Preferably, a split ring or a pairof 180° wedges are positioned around the annular lip of the secondarypipe and adhered to the secondary pipe with an adhesive cement.

According to another embodiment, a sealing fitting for use in a doublecontainment connection is provided which includes two complementarysemi-annular portions which fit together to form an annular fittinghaving a smaller diameter end and a larger diameter end, eachsemi-annular portion having at each end a substantially flat matingsurface extending from an inner to an outer surface of the semi-annularportion at an acute angle to tangent to the inside diameter of thesemi-annular portion.

According to another embodiment, a sealing fitting for use in a doublecontainment connection is provided which includes first and secondcomplementary semi-annular portions which fit together to form anannular fitting having a smaller diameter end and a larger diameter end,each semi-annular portion having at each end a mating surface includinga tongue and a groove, wherein each tongue on the first semi-annularportion is adapted to fit closely in a corresponding groove on thesecond semi-annular portion, and wherein each tongue on the secondsemi-annular portion is adapted to fit closely in a corresponding grooveon the first semi-annular portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood by referring to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a double containment pipe joint using asingle piece reducer fitting in combination with a split ring accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single piece reducer fitting used incombination with wedges;

FIR 3 is a sectional view of a double containment pipe joint using athreaded single piece reducer fitting according to another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a die for molding the threads of thesecondary fitting of the double containment fitting;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a double containment pipe joint using athreaded single piece reducer fitting according to yet anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a double containment pipe joint using athreaded single piece reducer fitting according to a further embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a two piece reducer fitting according toanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the reducer fitting of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a two piece reducer fitting according to yetanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the reducer fitting of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a two piece reducer fitting according toanother embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the reducer fitting of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention in which a reducerfitting 10 is provided for joining and sealing a double containment pipe12 (“DCP”) in a double containment fitting 14. The DCP 12 consists of aninternal, primary pipe 16, or simply a “primary,” contained in asecondary pipe 18, or “secondary.” The primary and secondary areseparated by porous material which provides a fluid passage between thepipes to allow any fluid escaping from the primary to flow between thepipes into a reservoir. The porous material may be a granular materialsuch as sand or graded gravel, or a mesh material such as copper mesh.The double containment fitting 14 consists of two tubes; a primaryfitting 20 and a secondary fitting 22 which are also separated by porousmaterial to provide a fluid passage between the tubes. The DCP 12 andthe double containment fitting 14 have approximately the same innerdiameter, but the double containment fitting has a larger outer diameterthan the DCP.

The primary pipe 16 and primary fitting 20 have mating end structures.The male end, or spigot 24, or the primary pipe 16 is adapted to slideinto the female end, or socket 26, of the primary fitting 20. Thesecondary pipe 18 and secondary fitting 22 each have spigot ends 25, 27,respectively, recessed from the respective primary ends 24, 26. Theouter diameter of the secondary fitting 22 is larger than the outerdiameter of the secondary pipe 18.

The reducer fitting 10 has two female end portions, a first, larger endportion 28 adapted to fit over the secondary fitting 22, and a second,smaller end portion 30 having a smaller diameter adapted to fit over thesecondary pipe 18, and a conical intermediate portion 31. The innerdiameter of the first female end portion 28 is slightly larger than theouter diameter of the secondary fitting 22 at the spigot end 27, and theinner diameter of the second female end portion 30 is slightly largerthan the outer diameter of the secondary pipe 18 at the spigot end 25.

According to an exemplary embodiment for joining a DCP with an outerdiameter of about 5 inches and a double containment fitting with anouter diameter of about 5 ¾ inches, the reducer fitting is approximately3 ¾ inches in length and the female end portions each having a width ofabout 1 ⅛ inches. The reducer fitting is about 0.125 inch thick.

To assemble the joint, the reducer fitting 10 is slid over the DCP 12past its end, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1. A split ring 32 is placedover the DCP 12 just beyond the spigot of the secondary 18. The splitring effectively increases the diameter of the spigot to approximatethat of the rest of the pipe, and is preferably about {fraction (1/16)}inch thick. Preferably, the split ring has an inner diameter slightlysmaller than the outer diameter of the secondary 18 spigot, thus actingwith a compression force on the lip of the DCP secondary 18.

The primary joint is formed by spreading adhesive on the spigot 24 ofthe primary pipe 16 and the inside diameter of the socket 26 of theprimary fitting 20, bringing these ends into engagement, and bondingthem together. Adhesive is then spread over the spigot 25 of thesecondary pipe 18 and the split ring 32 is clamped over the spigot. Theadhesive at the primary joints and the split ring is then cured.Adhesive is then spread over the split ring 32 and secondary fitting 22and the reducer fitting 10 is slid over the primary joint such that thelarger first female end 28 fits over the spigot of the secondary fitting22 and the smaller second female end 30 is fit over the split ring 32 onthe spigot of the secondary 18. The reducer fitting joints are thencured.

Preferably, the female ends of the reducer fitting 10 are tapered ½°from their ends to their junction with the intermediate portion, as inAMERON's Quick-Lock® fittings.

According to an alternate embodiment, the inner diameter of the femaleends of the reducer fitting are large enough to allow two 180° wedges33, shown in FIG. 2, to be inserted at each end while the reducerfitting is held in place at the joint, thereby eliminating the need forclamping a split ring over the spigot of the secondary pipe.Alternatively, the 180° wedges are used in place of the split ring atthe spigot of the secondary 18 and only the inner diameter of the secondfemale end 30 is increased.

Closing the secondary joint according to this embodiment provides astronger connection which can be rated at a pressure on the order ofthat required for the primary.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a mechanical joint isprovided consisting of elastomeric seals in combination with threadedfittings. A DCP 40 comprising a secondary pipe 44 and a primary pipe 42with a tapered end is joined with a double containment fitting 46comprising a primary fitting 48 and a secondary fitting 50. The doublecontainment fitting 46 has a larger outer diameter than the DCP 40.

The primary fitting 48 is a standard molded fitting. The secondaryfitting has internal threads. Preferably the internal threads are formedby molding the fitting end about a female thread die 52 as shown in FIG.4. Porous material, such as that described above, is positioned betweenthe primary and secondary pipes and between the primary and secondaryfittings to provide a passage for fluid flow.

A reducer fitting 54 has two female end portions, a first end portion 56having a larger diameter and a second end portion 58 having a smallerdiameter, and a conical intermediate portion 60 tapering from the largerdiameter to the smaller diameter, preferably at a 45° angle. Each of thefemale ends has external threads.

According to a preferred embodiment for joining pipes of approximately 3inches in diameter, the threaded portion 62 of each female end of thereducer fitting 54 is 0.5 inches long with 10 turns per inch in aright-handed orientation. A nut 64 with internal threads 66 and an innerramp 67 adjacent to the threaded portion is provided for connection tothe smaller diameter female end of the reducer fitting. Preferably, twoO-rings 68, 70 are used to seal the joints. A larger one of the O-rings68 is positioned between an inner ledge 72 of the secondary fitting 50and the end of the larger female end 56 of the reducer fitting, and theother, smaller O-ring 70 compressed between the end of the smallerdiameter female end 58 of the reducer fitting, the outer diameter of theDCP secondary pipe 44, and the inner ramp of the nut 64.

To assemble the joint, the nut 64, smaller O-ring 70 and reducer fitting54, smaller end 58 first, in that order, are slid over the secondarypipe 44. Preferably, the O-ring 70 has an inner diameter slightlysmaller than the outer diameter of the DCP secondary pipe 44 to providea snug fit. The larger O-ring 68 is positioned inside the secondaryfitting 50 against the ledge 72 beyond the internal threads. The primarypipe 42 and primary fitting 48 are then joined by sliding the taperedend of the primary pipe 42 into the primary fitting 48. The largerdiameter end of the reducer fitting is then screwed all the way into themating internal threads in the secondary fitting 50, thereby compressingthe O-ring 68 and providing a seal. The smaller O-ring 70 is thenpositioned flush against the edge of the smaller end 58 of the reducerfitting. The nut 64 is screwed over the mating outer threads of thesmaller end 58 of the reducer fitting, thereby compressing the O-ring 70between the ramp 67 of the nut, the end of the reducer fitting, and theouter diameter of the secondary pipe 44.

Preferably, the O-rings and threads are sized such that the variationsin alignment of the joint can be tolerated without affecting theintegrity of the seal.

Preferably, the inner ramp 67 on the nut is angled 30° and an internalbevel 74 of the nut is angled 45° to mate with the preferably 45° angleof the conical intermediate portion 60 of the reducer fitting.

The threads shown in FIG. 3 are full V-shaped threads. Preferably, thedesign tolerances of the mating threads are sufficiently high such thatwhen the complementary threaded components are joined, theinterconnected threaded portions act as a fluid seal. According to analternate embodiment, the larger O-ring 68 between the larger diameterend portion 56 of the reducer fitting 54 and secondary fitting 50 iseliminated, with the seal between the threaded portions providing thefluid seal.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, an alternate threadarrangement may be used for threads on the secondary fitting, reducerfitting and nut comprising truncated V-shaped threads, commonly referredto as modified acme thread.

The embodiments of the invention described above are directed to joiningthe male end of a DCP to the female end of a double containment fitting.The double containment fitting could be, for example, a female end of anL-shaped or T-shaped fitting.

Generally, a DCP has a larger diameter female end with a socket and asmaller diameter male end with a spigot. According to alternateembodiments, the invention could be used to join the male end of a DCPto the female end of another DCP.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3, except thatthe larger diameter end 56″ of the reducer fitting 54″ is formed as afemale fitting having internal threads and the end of the secondaryfitting 50″ is formed as a spigot with external threads. According tothis embodiment, the inner diameter of the larger diameter end 56″ ofthe reducer fitting 54″ is larger than the outer diameter of the spigotof the secondary fitting 50″.

According to another aspect of the invention shown in FIGS. 7-12, atwo-piece reducer fitting is provided which is designed for particularease in bonding. Some variation in diameter of the containmentcomponents and some misalignment of the joint can be tolerated due tothe nature of the closure pieces of the reducer fitting and how they fitwith each other.

One version of such a reducer fitting 80, 80′ is a full circular closurewhich is cut into two pieces (82, 84 and 86, 88, respectively) in anangular orientation relative to the surface of the part, as shown inalternative embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and 9 and 10. Withthese alternative embodiments, the area of the surfaces to be bonded isincreased in comparison to known reducer fittings which are cutperpendicular to the surface (i.e., radially), leaving only thethickness of the wall of the part available for bonding. This providesgreater strength for the aforementioned size and alignment deviationswithout significantly affecting the performance of the closure.

The semicircular pieces 82 and 84 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and8 have substantially identical shapes and can also be produced bymolding the identical pieces from the same mold.

Another version is a reducer fitting 90 consisting of two identicallymolded halves 91, 93 with each side having a “tongue-in-groove”configuration as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. On one side of the fitting, atongue 92 is positioned towards the inside wall surface 94 and a groove96 to the outside wall surface 98, and on the other side, the groove 96is positioned toward the inside wall surface and the tongue 92 ispositioned towards the outside wall surface 98. When these two halvesare assembled together, each tongue 92 and groove 96 fit in the matingsurface of the opposing element in keyed engagement. Further, the tongueand groove surfaces increases the bonding surface area of the joints,thereby increasing the strength of the bond. To ensure a smooth interiorsurface of the fitting, it may be necessary to provide a “bulge” on theouter surface to accommodate the side of the tongue 92 and groove 96elements necessary to provide enough surface area to provide sufficientbonding area and a good joint.

Although the present invention has been described with respect toparticular embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatthe present invention may be modified without departing from the scopeof the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention as defined by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sealing fitting for connecting the annulus of one double containment pipe to the annulus of another double containment pipe, comprising: two complementary semi-annular portions adapted to fit together to form an annular fitting having a smaller diameter end and a larger diameter end, each semi-annular portion comprising: a substantially flat mating surface extending from an inner to an outer surface of the semi-annular portion, said mating o surface extending at an acute angle to a tangent to the inside surface of the semi-annular portion as measured at the intersection of the mating surface and the inner surface, wherein the mating surface of one portion is bonded to the mating surface of the other portion forming the fitting, wherein when the fitting is formed it forms a flow conduit between the annulus of the one and the annulus of the other double containment pipe.
 2. A sealing fitting for use in a double containment connection, comprising: first and second complementary semi-annular portions which fit together to form an annular fitting having a smaller diameter end for coupling to a double containment pipe having a smaller outer surface diameter and a larger diameter end for coupling to another double containment pipe having a larger outer surface diameter, each semi-annular portion comprising at each end, a mating surface including a tongue and a mating surface including a groove complementary to the tongue, wherein each tongue on the first semi-annular portion is adapted to fit closely in a corresponding groove on the second semi-annular portion, and wherein each tongue on the second semi-annular portion is adapted to fit closely in a corresponding groove on the first semi-annular portion, wherein the two semi-annular portions can be radially fitted together to form the fitting and wherein a mating surface comprising a groove is bonded to a mating surface comprising a tongue.
 3. A sealing fitting for use in connecting the annulus of one double containment pipe to the annulus of another double containment pipe, the fitting comprising two portions adapted to fit together to form an annular fitting having a smaller diameter end and a larger diameter end, each portion comprising two substantially flat mating surfaces, each mating surface extending from the smaller to the larger diameter end of the portion and from an inner to an outer surface of the portion at a non-perpendicular angle to a tangent of the inner or outer surface of the portion, wherein a first mating surface of a first portion is complementary to a first mating surface of a second portion and wherein a second mating surface of the first portion is complementary to a second mating surface of the second portion, and wherein the two portions can be radially fitted together to form the fitting and wherein the first mating surface of the first portion is mated and bonded to the first mating surface of the second portion and the second mating surface of the first portion is mated to the second mating surface of the second portion, wherein when the fitting is formed it forms a flow conduit between the annulus of the one and the annulus of the other double containment pipe.
 4. A sealing fitting as recited in claim 3 wherein the first mating surface of the first portion is parallel to the second mating surface of the first portion.
 5. A sealing fitting as recited in claim 3 wherein the two portions are identical.
 6. A sealing fitting as recited in claim 3 wherein the first portion makes up a larger portion of the annular fitting.
 7. A sealing fitting for use in connecting double containment pipes, the fitting comprising two portions adapted to fit together to form an annular fitting having a smaller diameter end and a larger diameter end, each portion comprising two mating surfaces, each mating surface extending from the smaller to the larger diameter end of the portion and from an inner to an outer surface of the portion at a non-perpendicular angle to a tangent of the inner or outer surface of the portion, wherein a first mating surface of the first portion is complementary to a first mating surface of a second portion and wherein a second mating surface of the first portion is complementary to a second mating surface of the second portion, wherein the first mating surface of the first portion comprises a tongue, wherein the first mating surface of the second portion comprises a groove complementary to the tongue, wherein the two portions can be radially fitted together to form the fitting, and wherein the first mating surface of the first portion is mated and bonded to the first mating surface of the second portion and the second mating surface of the first portion is mated to the second mating surface of the second portion.
 8. A sealing fitting as recited in claim 7 wherein the second mating surface of the second portion comprises a tongue and the second mating surface of the first portion comprises a groove complementary to the tongue. 